Outerwear having an emblem holder

ABSTRACT

Outerwear, such as a belt, having at least one emblem holder permanently affixed thereto, wherein the emblem holder is formed to receive an emblem and the emblem may be removable therefrom.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Emblems are currently made for various institutions, such as sports teams and golf courses. Those emblems identify their associated institutions through various devices such as symbols, pictures and text. Those emblems may be sold separately or affixed to a device such as a divot repair tool. Such a divot repair tool carrying a single emblem may furthermore be clipped to a belt. Certain collectors of emblems may, however, desire to display a variety of emblems on a belt or other piece of outerwear simultaneously. For example, a golfer who plays at various golf courses may collect emblems from some or all of those golf courses and may wish to display emblems from the most famous or interesting of those golf courses on a belt to encourage others to strike-up conversation about those golf courses, thereby gaining knowledge of or becoming known to people they did not previously know. For example, when playing golf with one or more previously unknown people, it may be that one or more of those previously unknown people will comment upon or ask a question about one or more of the institutions identified by the emblems displayed on the belt, thereby breaking the conversational ice between the wearer and the previously unknown person.

Thus, there may be a need for a piece of outerwear, such as a belt, on which to display emblems. There may furthermore be a need for the emblems to be interchangeable such that the emblems displayed on the belt may be changed from time to time.

There may also be a need for a method of displaying emblems of a piece of outerwear and a need for a method by which emblems displayed on the piece of outerwear may be changed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention includes a piece of outerwear comprising at least one holder permanently affixed thereto, the holder formed to receive an emblem. The piece of outerwear may include a plurality of emblem holders and emblems may be removably affixed to the emblem holders such that the emblems are interchangeable.

The present invention also includes a method of displaying at least one emblem on a piece of outerwear. That method includes permanently affixing at least one emblem holder on a piece of outerwear and affixing an emblem to the emblem holder. The method may furthermore include permanently affixing a plurality of emblem holders to the piece of outerwear and removably affixing a separate emblem to each emblem holder such that the emblems are interchangeable with respect to each emblem holder.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The detailed description is better understood in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters represent like elements, as follows:

FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of a belt having a plurality of holders for carrying emblems;

FIG. 2 illustrates the belt of FIG. 1 with emblems positioned in the holders;

FIG. 3 is a front view of an emblem holder;

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the emblem holder of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a front view of an emblem; and

FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the emblem of FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference will now be made to embodiments of a piece of outerwear having at least one holder for carrying an emblem and methods of constructing and using such a piece of outerwear. Details, features, and advantages of the piece of outerwear having at least one holder for carrying emblems and methods of constructing and using that piece of outerwear will become further apparent in the following detailed description of embodiments thereof.

Any reference in the specification to “one embodiment,” “a certain embodiment,” or a similar reference to an embodiment is intended to indicate that a particular feature, structure or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the invention. The appearances of such terms in various places in the specification do not necessarily all refer to the same embodiment. References to “or” are furthermore intended as inclusive, so “or” may indicate one or another of the ored terms or more than one ored term.

FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of a belt having a plurality of holders for carrying emblems 10. The belt 12 may be of any type desired including, for example, those having buckles, hooks, rings, and clasps. The belt 12 may be made of any desired material or combination of materials including, for example, leather or other hide, cloth, nylon, plastic, and metal. Any number, from one to many emblem holders 14, may be attached to the belt 12 or to any type of outerwear desired. For example, the outerwear to which the emblem holders 14 are attached may be a jacket, a vest, a hat, a shoe or any other piece of outerwear on which someone may wish to display emblems 30.

No emblems 30 are included in the emblem holders 14 in the belt 12 embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1. The belt 12 includes a plurality of emblem holders 14 in which a purchaser or user may place the emblems 30 they desire to display. Emblems 30 may further more be removably affixed to the emblem holders 14 so that the user can alter the emblems 30 displayed as desired.

FIG. 2 illustrates the belt 12 of FIG. 1 with emblems 30 positioned in the emblem holders 14. Those emblems 30 may be temporarily or permanently affixed to the emblem holders 14 by a manufacturer or a user.

FIG. 3 illustrates an emblem receiving side, or front view of an embodiment of the emblem holder 14. FIG. 4 illustrates a bottom view of the emblem holder 14 illustrated in FIG. 3. The emblem holder 14 illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 includes a rim 16, an outer emblem carrying depression 18, an inner emblem carrying depression, an emblem coupling surface 20, and an aperture 22. The emblem coupling surface 20 may be magnetic when it is desired to couple emblems magnetically. Alternately, the emblem coupling surface 22 may be metallic to couple to a magnetic emblem 30. Coupling methods other than magnetic coupling may also be used to couple an emblem 30 to the emblem holder 14 including, for example, adhesive coupling.

The emblem holders 14 may be formed of metal, plastic, or another desired material. The emblem holders 14 may be attached to the belt 12 or another piece of outerwear by rivets, adhesives, or in any way desired.

Emblems 30 may be manufactured in more than one size and the emblem holder 14 may be configured to accept emblems 30 of more than one size. For example, the emblem holder 14 illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 includes an outer emblem carrying depression 18 and an inner emblem carrying depression 24 located within the outer emblem carrying depression 18. In that embodiment, a small emblem 30 may be fitted into the inner emblem carrying depression 24 or a large emblem 30 may be fitted into the outer emblem carrying depression 18.

As has been discussed, the emblem coupling surface 20 may be coupled to an emblem 30 magnetically or by way of adhesive. Alternately, the inner emblem carrying depression 24 and the outer emblem carrying depression 18 may be sized such that an emblem may be interference fitted within either of those depressions 18 or 24. Any number of depressions 18 and 24 for any number of sized emblems 30 may be incorporated into the emblem holder 14.

In another embodiment, the emblem holder 14 may include an emblem coupling surface 20 on which any size emblem 30 may be placed and affixed, for example, centered on the emblem coupling surface. Magnetic or adhesive affixation may, for example, facilitate placement of various sized emblems 30 on such an emblem coupling surface 20.

The aperture 22 may be used to couple the emblem holder 14 to the belt 12, to permit placement of an emblem 30 including a pin 36 to be placed in the emblem holder 14 with the pin 36 protruding into the aperture 22, for both of those purpose, or as otherwise desired. For example, a rivet may be placed through the aperture 22 and the belt to attach the emblem holder 14 to the belt. An emblem with a pin, such as a golf ball marker, may then be placed in the holder with the pin extending into the aperture 22 or into the center of the rivet.

FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate a face view and a bottom view, respectively, of an emblem 30. The emblem has a face 32 and a holder coupling surface 34. The emblem 30 may include indicia of any type such as, for example, indicia that indicates a sports team, a golf course, or another place. The emblems 30 may also include indicia that commemorates an event, such as a tournament or competition held at a particular place or at a particular time or date.

The emblem may be formed of a metal, such as steel, that is attracted to a magnetic surface when used in conjunction with a magnetic emblem holder 14. The emblem 30 may have an indicia formed upon or painted upon its face 32. The emblem may further be formed with a pin 36 protruding from the holder coupling surface 34, such as might be included on a golf ball marker, if desired. Alternately, the holder coupling surface 34 may be smooth or shaped as desired for coupling to the emblem holder 14.

Various systems and methods may be used to affix the emblems 30 to the emblem holders 14. As discussed, one or more of the emblems 30 may be affixed to the emblem holders 14 by magnetic forces, adhesive, or interference fit. Where permanent affixation is desired, permanent adhesive may be used or mechanical affixation, such as by riveting, welding, or soldering may be used. Emblems 30 may furthermore be formed in or with the emblem holder 14 by, for example, casting.

The emblem holder 14 may be any shape desired. For example, the emblem holder 14 may be round, oval, square, or rectangular. In an embodiment, the emblem holder 14 may be shaped as a divot repair tool with prongs extending from the emblem holder 14 so as to convey a golf motif. The emblem 30 may also be any shape desired such as, for example, round, oval, square, or rectangular.

Various emblems 30 may be placed in the plurality of emblem holders 14 such that, for example, as a user travels to various golf courses, the user may purchase or otherwise receive an emblem from all or some of those golf courses and place those emblems in the emblem holders 14 of the belt 12. Where the emblems 30 are removable from the emblem holders 14, the user may furthermore remove one or more emblems 30 from one or more emblem holders 14 attached to a piece of outerwear and affix one or more different emblems 30 to those emblem holders 14. In that way, the emblems 30 may be changed so as to cause the outerwear to show recent golf courses the user has played or sports venues the user has attended, or favorite golf courses or sports teams, and may be a renewable topic of conversation.

The foregoing description has been directed to specific embodiments of this invention. It will be apparent, however, that other variations and modifications may be made to the described embodiments, with the attainment of some or all of their advantages. For example, the emblem holders may be affixed to a jacket, vest, hat, shoe or other piece of outerwear rather than a belt. It will also be appreciated that features described with respect to one embodiment may be applied to another, whether explicitly indicated. Therefore, it is the object of the appended claims to cover all such variations and modifications as come within the true spirit and scope of the invention. 

1. A piece of outerwear comprising a plurality of emblem holders permanently affixed thereto, each of the holders formed to receive an emblem.
 2. The piece of outerwear of claim 1, wherein the piece of outerwear is a belt.
 3. The piece of outerwear of claim 1, wherein the emblems are removable.
 4. The piece of outerwear of claim 1, wherein the emblems are affixed to the emblem holders magnetically.
 5. The piece of outerwear of claim 1, wherein the emblems are affixed to the emblem holders by adhesive.
 6. The piece of outerwear of claim 1, wherein the emblems are interference fit to the emblem holders.
 7. The piece of outerwear of claim 1, wherein the emblem holders have a depression into which an emblem may be fitted.
 8. The piece of outerwear of claim 7, wherein the emblem holders have a second depression into which a differently sized emblem may be fitted.
 9. The piece of outerwear of claim 1, wherein the emblem holder has a face and the face is smooth without any depression or aperture.
 10. A method of displaying a plurality of emblems on a piece of outerwear, comprising: permanently affixing a plurality of emblem holders on the piece of outerwear; and affixing an emblem to each emblem holder.
 11. The method of claim 10, further comprising removing one of the emblems and replacing the emblem with another emblem.
 12. The piece of outerwear of claim 11, wherein the emblem and the other emblem are different sizes.
 13. The piece of outerwear of claim 10, wherein affixing the emblems to the emblem holders further comprises affixing the emblems to the emblem holders magnetically.
 14. The piece of outerwear of claim 10, wherein affixing the emblems to the emblem holders further comprises affixing the emblems to the emblem holders with adhesive.
 15. The piece of outerwear of claim 10, wherein affixing the emblems to the emblem holders further comprises affixing the emblems to the emblem holders through interference fit.
 16. A piece of outerwear having an emblem holder permanently affixed thereto, the holder formed to removably receive an emblem.
 17. The piece of outerwear of claim 16, wherein the piece of outerwear is a belt.
 18. The piece of outerwear of claim 16, wherein the piece of outerwear is a shoe.
 19. The piece of outerwear of claim 16, wherein the piece of outerwear is a hat.
 20. The piece of outerwear of claim 16, wherein the emblem holder is formed to receive emblems of at east two sizes. 